The favorite to win the Heisman Trophy as a new season begins is USC quarterback Caleb Williams at odds. Also among the favorites are Quinn Ewers at , Jayden Daniels at and Jordan Travis at .
The Heisman Trophy is the oldest and most prestigious individual award in college football, given out at the end of every season to the most outstanding player in the game. At legal online sportsbooks, you’ll find college football betting odds on a variety of topics, including who will win the 2023 Heisman Trophy. Below, we’ll look at some of the odds on who will win, as well as relevant information on this year’s field of potential candidates.
Best Heisman Trophy odds
The table below shows odds on current favorites to win this year’s Heisman Trophy. Odds are from top sports betting sites in various US states. Click on any of the odds numbers to head to the sportsbook where you can place that wager.
After winning the Heisman Trophy in his sophomore season in 2022, USC quarterback Caleb Williams is the current favorite to win the award again this season. Williams led the nation in passing touchdowns last season and was third in overall passing yards. If he were to win the Heisman in consecutive years, he’d become only the second player to do so.
Also among the favorites are quarterbacks Jordan Travis of Florida State and Jayden Daniels of LSU. Travis surprised many people by foregoing the draft to return for another season at Florida State, where he is the only player in school history to be in the top 10 for both passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns.
Rounding out the list of early Heisman favorites are Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, and Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman.
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Recent Heisman Trophy history
There have been 85 Heisman Trophy winners since the first award in 1935. Only one player — Ohio State running back Archie Griffin — has won the award more than once, which he did in consecutive seasons in 1974 and 1975. The award was originally called the DAC Trophy and was given out by the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City, in recognition of the best college football player east of the Mississippi River. The award was later renamed for the club’s late athletic director, John Heisman, and the focus expanded to include college football players nationwide.
In the early years of the award, running backs dominated the field. Quarterbacks have won the Heisman Trophy in six of the last seven seasons, however, giving QBs a total of 39 Heisman wins in 86 years.
| Season | Heisman Winner | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Jameis Winston | QB | Florida State |
| 2014 | Marcus Mariota | QB | Oregon |
| 2015 | Derrick Henry | RB | Alabama |
| 2016 | Lamar Jackson | QB | Louisville |
| 2017 | Baker Mayfield | QB | Oklahoma |
| 2018 | Kyler Murray | QB | Oklahoma |
| 2019 | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU |
| 2020 | DeVonta Smith | WR | Alabama |
| 2021 | Bryce Young | QB | Alabama |
| 2022 | Caleb Williams | QB | USC |
USC, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, and Ohio State have each had seven Heisman winners in their history, creating a four-way tie. Alabama is next on the list with four, though three of those came within the last eight seasons.
As a conference, the Big Ten leads all others with 18 Heisman winners, with the last coming in 2006 — Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith. The SEC is close behind with 17 winners, including three in the last four years.
Important Heisman Trophy dates
Nov. 27: Heisman ballots distributed
Dec. 4: Heisman finalists announced
Dec. 9: Heisman ceremony (broadcast on ESPN)
Heisman Trophy FAQs
Can I bet on the winner of the Heisman Trophy?
Yes. Multiple online sportsbooks typically offer futures odds on potential Heisman winners, and those odds will shift as the season progresses.
Which players are eligible to win the Heisman?
Technically, all players in every division of college football are eligible for the Heisman. In practice, the award almost always goes to a player from one of the major Division I schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Who chooses the Heisman winner?
A voting panel consisting mainly of media members who cover college football votes on the award. The voting panel also includes past Heisman winners, as well as one sponsor vote that an online fan ballot decides.
Do defensive players ever win the Heisman?
Yes, though it’s extremely rare. Quarterbacks and running backs have dominated Heisman voting in most years. The last time a primarily defensive player won the award was 1997 — Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson.